Commander Matthew R. Lear
Commanding Officer
Commander Matthew R. Lear attended the United States Naval Academy, graduating in 1993 with Bachelor of Science in Oceanography. Originally a Surface Warfare Officer, he first served as Combat Information Center Officer and later as Operations Officer on USS Pioneer (MCM 9) and USS Sentry (MCM 3) from 1994 to 1996.
Subsequently designated a Meteorology and Oceanography Officer, he reported to Fleet Numerical Meteorology and Oceanography Center, Monterey, California in 1997, serving as Fleet Application Duty Officer and subsequently Webmaster. He then reported to the National/Naval Ice Center in Suitland, Maryland as the department head for Networks and Geospatial Information Services.
In 2002, CDR Lear attended the Naval Post Graduate School, where he earned a Masters of Science degree in Meteorology and a second Masters of Science Degree in Computer Science. During this tour, CDR Lear was selected for lateral transfer to the Information Professional community.
His first Information Professional tour was as C4I department head for Destroyer Squadron Twenty-Two, Norfolk, Virginia, responsible for the communications of the Squadron's seven DDGs. In 2008, CDR Lear reported to Naval Computers and Telecommunications Station, Naples, Italy as the Executive Officer. In his latest assignment, he served as the Combat Systems Officer on the only forward deployed nuclear aircraft carrier the USS George Washington (CVN-73) in Yokosuka, Japan.
Commander Lear's decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal (four awards), and Navy Achievement Medal (three awards), in addition to various campaign and unit awards.